guyd. thanks for the feedback, I decided I want to go for the gasser look, now, can I use my springs and original straight axle, can I have them rearched, can I get larger springs out of the boneyard? Also, I have a 390 for the truck and I want a four speed manual or a c-6, do I have to use a c-6 from a 390 or will another one fit? Also, check out some updated pics, got some of the old paint stripped off in my driveway with no garage!!!

 

Can't wait to see it in gasser form! Now I know what was under the blue tarp.

There is a crazy six-four Impala gasser on eBay that might give you some front suspension ideas.

 

you have to use a C-6 from the FE engine family (352, 360, 390, etc.). The FE had a different bellhouding pattern than the rest of the Ford engines and the C-6 has an integral bellhousing. try to find a camper special truck with the c-6 as it should have the beefier internals (more clutch plates, etc.). i will try to find the code letter for c-6 transmissions and post it for you. easier to look at the data plate than crawl underneath to see what tranny the truck has.

 

You can have the springs rearched or do it yourself (do a search here for info), just don't go too crazy, rearching shortens the spring and you can reach a point where the shackle will quit working and you'll have a solid suspension. For a true gasser look, you'd need a tubular straight axle with no drop, then you wouldn't need as much spring arch. Increasing the arch will stiffen the springing, so be prepared for a hard ride and need for stiffer shocks as well.

 

FYI the front end tells me she is a '58, not a '59......

 

For a correct gasser look, you need to replace the styleside bed with a stepside and shorten it to the back of the wheelwells.

 

Dumb question, but what is the "gasser" look?

 

I'm glad you asked, *****...now I don't feel so stupid.

 

oops...accidentally double posted

 

"Gassers" was a popular dragracing class back in the 60's-early 70's before funny cars etc evolved. They were some of the quickest full bodied cars and resembled something that could be street driven. Popular body styles were the 33-40 ******, late 40's English Ford Anglias, Austins, 55-57 Chevies, along with a few oddballs like Henry Js, Studebakers, Opels etc. Fords were not as big in the class due to no good lightweight model choice for the class. Rules required a car with a min. 92" wheelbase, any gasoline fueled engine with any modifications, total engine setback could not exceed 10% of the wheelbase. Class was subdivided by weight/cu in, supercharged or normally aspirated. Top chop was limited to 3", fiberglass or aluminum body panel replacements were allowed, and the driver had to sit left of center. Spring suspension front and rear was required. Most used a straight tubular front axle with high arched parallel leaf springs in front, lightweight wheels and skinny tires, fiberglass hood and fenders, no grill or front bumper. Frames were rectangular tube with full roll cage. Huge slicks were tucked under the rear fenders. The King of the Gassers was the A/GS (A Gas Supercharged) class where blown Hemi engines were used. Google some of the "big" names of the day for pictures: Stone, Woods, and Cook; Big John Mazmanian; Ohio George Montgomery; Jimmy Oddy, Hurudka Brothers; etc. Match races between the touring A/GS cars was a big gate draw at many dragstrips, especially if a local car was involved. I can still hear the radio commercials: SUNDAAAY... SUNDAAAY... SUNDAY!

 

Thanks for the explanation, AX.

 

I ran a 36 Chev C/Gas car back in the day. today's Funny Cars evolved from the Gas class cars when the newer bodies started to be used for fan recognition in the match racing. Match racing became big business since the tracks paid high dollars for their show and the winner usually pocketed twice what the loser took home. Some of the "outlaw" match racers started to move the front and rear axles forwards in the body for more weight transfer to the rear tires since they had started putting alchohol and nitro fuel in the tank the tires weren't holding the extra horsepower. At first the movement was subtle: just a few inches and the wheel openings in the fenders were moved to match, you weren't real sure what had been done, but they just looked a little "funny". Hence the name "funny car" was born. And that's the rest of the story...